Richmond assistant Andrew McQualter has revealed the club made conservative decisions not to include star duo Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch in Saturday's match simulation session.
Martin, who suffered an abductor issue earlier this week, was a notable absentee from training at Punt Road this morning, taking part in run-throughs with Lynch prior to the intra-club clash.
The three-time Norm Smith Medal winner has faced a difficult battle with his health this pre-season, having lost a significant amount of weight in his recovery from a season-ending kidney issue.
Lynch has been sidelined for the past few weeks after suffering a minor hamstring complaint in January, with the key forward continuing his recuperation from the setback.
While the pair took no part in Saturday's session, they are tipped to be given the green light for the Tigers' Round 1 bout with Carlton next month.
McQualter revealed that both Martin and Lynch narrowly missed selection and could be in the frame for next week's trip to Kardinia Park as part of their pre-season fixture.
โDustin was pretty close to playing, (it) was a slight hip issue and we expect him to be fine next week,โ McQualter told News Corp.
โLynchy โฆ was pretty much at 100 per cent running. He probably could have played today. But it was not worth running the risk for an intra-club at this time of the year with those guys.
โBoth look like they will be available next week. It will be a first-game (of the preseason) for them. Over the years we have always built our guys up, and it will be the same for them.โ
While both Martin and Lynch look set to exit the club's casualty ward, lively midfield-forward utility Matt Parker has entered it, having suffered a suspected foot injury in the session.
The club are currently set to assess Parker's ailment and will be awaiting on scan results in the coming days.
โIt is never ideal to see guys go down in a scratch match," McQualter said.
"It was somewhere in his foot. Obviously we will go away and look at some scans, we are not really sure about it, but we donโt want to see guys limping off.โ
Midfielder
Parker was a formidable addition to Richmond's squad through last year's Mid-Season Rookie Draft, venturing to the yellow and black following an impressive tenure with South Fremantle in the WAFL.
The 26-year-old returned to the Bulldogs after six appearances with the Tigers, featuring in South Fremantle's premiership push.
Midfield duo Kane Lambert and Jack Graham were also noted to have not taken part in the weekend's hit-out, as they look to return to full fitness ahead of the new season.
Richmond will face Geelong next Saturday before their AAMI Community Series match against Hawthorn on Saturday, March 5.
